User Manual

Siemens Switzerland Ltd

Building Technologies Division

In addition to the type of alarm and evacuation system provided, evacuation

plans, escape route identification, emergency lighting systems and smoke

venting systems (where feasible) are essential to ensure a fast and safe

evacuation of all persons.

All buildings which are open to the public must have a detailed evacuation plan

with detailed procedures for the systematic, safe and orderly evacuation of the

building in case of fire or other emergencies. Fire drills should be carried out on a

regular basis to ensure that all members of staff are familiar with all aspects of

this plan.

If an evacuation of the building becomes necessary visitors, who will normally

have little knowledge of the building, must be able to rely on the escape route

identification signs to find their way out of the building.

To enable a safe evacuation, the emergency lighting must be turned on in all

relevant areas.

In purpose-built museums and art galleries air handling systems remove smoke

from the building allowing the escape routes to be kept smoke-free, enabling

people to leave the building in a quick and safe manner.

Section 4 describes the measures needed to alert staff, visitors and the

intervention forces, and how to ensure a fast and safe evacuation of the building.

Extinguishing measures Unfortunately fires cannot always be prevented and it may become necessary to

deal with a fire in the most effective manner.

The hand-held fire extinguishers situated at strategic points throughout the

building allow staff to suppress incipient fires quickly and effectively.

Automatic systems such as sprinklers generally react directly to the heat

generated by the fire, releasing water from those sprinkler heads closest to the

seat of the fire. The major objective is to prevent fire from spreading to other

areas of the building and developing into a raging fire that may cause untold

damage.

Special applications require special solutions. Historical buildings and museums

may house some areas that fall into this category. In particular we can think of

archives, kitchens and electrical plant rooms.

Section 5 describes the measures needed to suppress incipient fires and

developing fires, and prevent fire spreading throughout a building.